Nanotherapeutic Anti-influenza Solutions: Current Knowledge and Future Challenges

Nanotechnology has impacted every aspect of human life and the environment. The raising concern against influenza outbreaks is an ongoing issue. With the current drugs and natural remedies, some amount of resolution has been reached. Yet, nothing conclusive has been achieved. With every resource tapped, it is now time to combine strategies. This review highlights the low enthusiasm in this area, where not much has been probed into employing nanomaterials into influenza research. The achievements made through the intervention of nanotechnology into anti influenza research, has been surveyed in this review. Except for a few, not much progress was evidenced. Although significant progress has been achieved with nano inputs, yet nothing much has been done in this direction. This review emphasizes the need to combine strategies and find new remedies against influenza virus using nano platforms. New directions and future perspectives for accessing the nano inputs for combating the influenza issues have been discussed.     

Efficient Green Protocol for the Synthesis of Novel Dihydroindeno[1,2-b]pyrroles

A simple and ecofriendly protocol has been developed for the expedient synthesis of novel dihydroindeno[1,2-b]pyrrol-4(3aH)-ones from the reaction of ninhydrin and (E)-N-methyl-1-(methylthio)-2-nitroethenamine or (E)-N-(1-(methylthio)-2-nitrovinyl)anilines.     

Investigation on the effect of cottonseed oil blended with different percentages of octanol and suspended MWCNT nanoparticles on diesel engine characteristics

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In the present work, a series of experiments were designed and conducted to prepare biodiesel from cottonseed oil and to blend it with octanol. The...     

Correction to: Investigation on the effect of cottonseed oil blended with different percentages of octanol and suspended MWCNT nanoparticles on diesel engine characteristics

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In the original publication of the article, the affiliations of the third, fourth and fifth authors were incorrectly published.     

A study on the inclusion complexation of 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid with β-cyclodextrin at different pH

Effect of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) on the absorption and fluorescence spectra of 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid (THB) have been studied buffer solutions of different pHs (pH ~1, pH ~7 and pH ~10). The study reveals that in all the above pHs THB forms 1:1 inclusion complex. The hydroxyl groups are present in the interior part of the β-CD cavity and carboxyl group is present in the hydrophilic part of the β-CD cavity. Dual luminescence is observed at pH ~1 and pH ~7 solutions which shows that intramolecular charge transfer present at these pH. The broad spectral maximum at pH ~10 indicates that intramolecular proton transfer is present in THB.     

Effect of AEE788 and/or Celecoxib on colon cancer cell morphology using advanced microscopic techniques

Analysis of changes in cancer cell morphology and cytoskeletal element induced by external stimuli is focus of current cancer chemotherapeutic studies. Cancer cell cytoskeleton is complex network of interwoven protein fibers composed of microtubules, microfilaments and intermediate filaments. These interwoven protein fibers are responsible for maintaining cell morphology, movement, adhesion and transmembrane signal transmission. In this study, morphological and cytoskeletal changes induced by AEE788 and/or Celecoxib on colon cancer cell HCT 15 were analyzed using advanced microscopic techniques. Cell proliferation assay was used for determining IC₅₀ of AEE788 and/or Celecoxib on HCT 15. Confocal microscopic analysis of AEE788 and/or Celecoxib treated HCT 15 was performed using Rhodamine-Phalloidin (actin stain) and Hoechst 33342 (nuclear stain). Atomic force (AFM) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies were also performed to analyze cell morphology and cell wall extension (filopodia and lamellipodia). In addition, quantitative analysis of morphological parameters was studied using cellular image processing technique. This is the first report that combination of AEE788 and Celecoxib additively increase growth inhibition and cell death on human colon cancer cell HCT 15 as estimated by cell proliferation assay. Morphological analysis of AEE788 or Celecoxib treated HCT 15 cell for 24 h have not revealed significant change in morphology under phase contrast microscopy. But, slight morphological changes were observed in combination (AEE788 + Celecoxib) treated HCT 15 for 24 h. In contrast, high resolution confocal laser fluorescence and atomic force microscopic studies have revealed cell shrinkage, disorganized actin filament and, loss of filopodia and lamellipodia. These changes were more prominent in combination of AEE788 and Celecoxib treated HCT 15 than either drug alone. These results may suggest antiproliferative and antimetastatic activity of AEE788 and/or Celecoxib. Quantitative analysis of morphological parameters using cellular image processing technique have shown decrease in mean area, perimeter, compactness and eccentricity of combination drug treated cells than either drug alone. These results further support the confocal and AFM study. Scanning electron microscopic study of AEE788 and/or Celecoxib treated HCT 15 has also shown morphological changes and loss of filopodia and lamellipodia. In conclusion, this investigation of morphological and cytoskeletal changes using advanced microscopic techniques present a significant foundation for evaluating anticancer activity of a drug and form a new strategy for evaluating effect of AEE788 and/or Celecoxib on colon cancer.     

Optimal acyclic edge colouring of grid like graphs

We determine the values of the acyclic chromatic index of a class of graphs referred to as d-dimensional partial tori. These are graphs which can be expressed as the cartesian product of d graphs each of which is an induced path or cycle. This class includes some known classes of graphs like d-dimensional meshes, hypercubes, tori, etc. Our estimates are exact except when the graph is a product of a path and a number of odd cycles, in which case the estimates differ by an additive factor of at most 1. Our results are also constructive and provide an optimal (or almost optimal) acyclic edge colouring in polynomial time.     

Os(VIII) doping effects on the properties and crystalline perfection of potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP) crystals

The effect of dopant, Os(VIII) on the growth process, crystalline perfection and properties of potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP) single crystals grown by a slow evaporation solution growth technique has been investigated. The XRD analysis of black-colored doped specimen reveals slight structural changes as a result of doping. The SEM images exhibit defect centers and crystal voids. The complex formation of KHP with Os(VIII) is evidenced by the considerable shift in λ_max of the doped specimen and enhanced fluorescence intensity is observed by doping. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and TG-DTA studies reveal the purity of the sample and no decomposition is observed up to the melting point. The high resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) studies used to evaluate the crystalline perfection reveal some features on the capability of accommodating the dopant in the crystalline matrix. The diffraction curve (DC) patterns indicate that the high valence transition metal predominantly occupies the interstitial positions and the doping depresses the second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency owing to the deterioration of crystalline perfection disturbing the charge transfer and nonlinearity.